If there is such a thing as pre-pandemic normalcy in 2021, Dubai is keen to display it. International tourism resumed more than a year ago, and the city has relatively lenient rules to combat the spread of Covid-19. That’s thanks to the fact that the United Arab Emirates, of which Dubai is a part, is one of the world’s most vaccinated nations. According to Bloomberg’s Vaccine Tracker, around 75% of the adult population is fully vaccinated.

Now, it is opening up to millions of visitors for the World Expo, which will take place on the outskirts of the city from Oct. 1 through March 31. The exhibition was delayed for a year due to the pandemic; Dubai anticipates it to attract 25 million visits, both virtually and in person. The opening ceremony will be held on the evening of Thursday, September 30, and the Expo will open its doors to the public from Friday, October 1, 2021, until March 31, 2022.

192 countries are participating in the Expo. The Expo has traditionally been a fertile breeding ground for some of the world’s greatest inventions, has been around for over 170 years, and takes place every five to six years.

The three main themes at this year’s event are mobility, sustainability, and opportunity

The major landmarks around the Expo site include Al Wasl Plaza, Mission Possible – The Opportunity Pavilion, Terra – The Sustainability Pavilion, Alif – The Mobility Pavilion, and the Dubai Exhibition Centre.

There are over 200 eateries spread across the venue. Several of the country pavilions have their restaurant within their spaces. Some of the biggest culinary offerings at the Expo include the three-course Future of Food: Epochal Banquet concept by Bompas & Parr which will explore the theme of food set 300 years in the future. Other star attractions include XYST, Veg’d and Mudra by American celebrity chef, Matthew Kenney, chef David Myers who will bring his Adrift Burger Bar to the Expo, local gems including The Arabian Tea House and Ravi Restaurant, and New York’s Scarpetta which will be present with its burrata bar.

Talabat is the official delivery partner and will also be using a team of 10 autonomous delivery robots to aid their services at the site.

They also have a two-story cloud kitchen set up there and have robots serving you coffee and ice creams too.

To avoid inciting a super spreader event, visitors will be required to adhere to the similar rules that apply when entering the country: they can either show vaccine cards or negative PCR tests were taken within 72 hours. (When crossing the border, the vaccinated set must also provide a negative result, and stricter provisions apply to those coming from certain countries, including tests that are only valid for 48 hours and a requirement to quarantine until a second swab, taken at the airport, comes back clean.

Tickets are available online, at the Expo site, and via its app too. One-day tickets are priced at Dhs95, multi-day tickets at Dhs195, and a season pass at Dhs495. Children and youth under 18, seniors above the age of 60, and people of determination can enter for free. Expo 2020 Dubai has also launched an October Pass, priced at Dhs95 for the entire month

you book with flydubai between September 1, 2021, and March 31, 2022, to travel to Dubai from October 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022, you will be eligible for a complimentary Expo 2020 1-Day Ticket for each passenger in the booking.

If you’re flying with Emirates to any destination between October 1, 2021, and March 31, 2022, the airline will give them one complimentary Expo 2020 day pass for each person in your booking. Etihad Airways is giving all its guests traveling into or via Abu Dhabi a complimentary ticket to Expo 2020 Dubai until March 31, 2022.

There are over 60 events that will be held daily at the site. These include special events, international days in partnership with United Nations, and several cultural performances including theatre, dance, and music. The events include live music, mascot entertainment, daily parades, and 360-degree projection shows too.

The Al Wasl Plaza also has a daily routine of programs that will repeat throughout the event, in addition to cultural highlights that will take place in individual country pavilions.

The opening ceremony will take begin at 7.30 pm at the Al Wasl Plaza on September 30 which houses the world’s largest immersive sound installation and also the world’s largest blended video projection installation. The 90-minute ceremony which will be broadcast live on Expo TV will have several performances from the likes of Andrea Bocelli, Ellie Goulding, Mohammed Abdou, Hussain Al Jasmi, and Angelique Kidjo, among others.